Tongs.



A. JOHNS.

TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-12.1911.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

ALBERT JOHNS, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 I

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed September 12, 1911; Serial 110. 64.8381.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LALBERT JOHNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Tongs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention appertains to tongs or grapples, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character having unique means for locking the parts with the jaws separated, and whereby the device will be unlocked automatically when the device is lowered onto the object to be lifted.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in locked open position, dotted lines showing the parts thereof in the position they assume when released to lift an object. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail illustrating a modified form of jaw for engaging a shaft, rod or other member of square or rectangular cross section. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail illustrating another modified form of jaw for lifting cylindrical or circular objects. Fig. 4; is a perspective detail illustrating still another modified form of jaw, which is employed for lifting heavy sheets or plates of metal. 7

In carrying out the invention, the lower ends of a pair of lifting cables 1 and 1 are attached to the upper ends or arms ofa pair of crossed and pivoted levers 2 and 2', respectively. The lever 2 preferably comprises two bars 3 and 3. The lower end portion of the lever 2 is formed into a hookshaped jaw e, and the lower end portions of the bars 3 and 3 of the lever 2 are formed into hook-shaped jaws 5 and 5', respectively. A bolt or other pivot element 6.is engaged through the levers 2 and 2' to pivot them together at their point of crossing.

A bolt or pivot element 7 is engaged through the upper arm of the lever 2 and has the lower end of a toggle link 8 engaged thereto, and a similar bolt or pivot element 9 is engaged to the upper arm of the lever 2 andhas the-lower ends of two bars 10'and 10 pivotallyengagedthereto. The bars 10 and 10 cooperate to provide a second toggle link. The togglelinks 8 and 1O10' con'- verge upwardly, and have their remote ends pivoted tothe upper arms of the'levers, while a pivot element or bolt 11 is engaged through the adjacent ends of the toggle links. The bolt or element 11 has a projecting portion 12 extending to one side.

A bar 13 has one end engaged to the bolt or pivot element 7 and its free end is slotted and engaged to a pin or lug 15 carried by an upwardly projecting bar 16 whichhas its lower end pivotally engaged to the bolt 6. The upper or free end portion of-the bar 16 is provided with a lateral notch, as at 17, which is engageable with the portion 12 of the bolt or pivot element 11. The bar 13 connects the bar 16 and upper arm of the lever 2 whereby said bar and arm only halye limited movements relative to one anot er.

In operation, when the parts are set, as

seen in full lines in Fig. 1, the protruding portion 12 of the bolt 11 is engaged in the notched end of the bar 16, and this will prevent the adjacent ends of the toggle links from moving away from the pivot bolt 6 of the levers 2 and 2, and the jaws of the levers will thus be held separated or open.

When the device is lowered onto the hay stack or other object to be lifted, the jaws in seating uponthe object will cause the cables 1 and 1 to be slackened, and this will allow the upper arms of the levers to swing downwardly, and as a result the togglelinks will move toward a straight line position. The bolt 11 is thus disengaged from the notched to one side. Then, when the cables 1 and 1 are moved upwardly, the upper arms of the levers may move toward one another for causing the hooks or jaws to properly'engage the object. When the bar 16 is released, it will not swing downwardly be tween the jaws, since this is prevented by the bar 13.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate various modified forms of jaws, which may be employed in 7 end of the bar 16, since the bar 16 will swing the tongs or grapple. In Fig. 2, the jaw 4.

has a V-shaped end 18 to engage a square or rectangular object, while the jaw 4 illustrated in Fig. 3 has a curved or U-shaped end 19 to engage a cylindrical or circular object. The jaw 4 illustrated in Fig. 4 has a portion 20 for engaging heavy sheet metal plates.

What is claimed is:

In a grappling device, a pair of crossed levers having upper arms and lower jaws, a pivot element engaged through the levers to pivot them. together, a pair of upwardly converging toggle links having their remote ends pivoted to said arms, a pivot element engaged through the adjacent ends of said links, an upwardly projecting bar pivoted to the first mentioned pivot element and having a lateral notch adjacent its free end and engageable with the second mentioned pivot element, means connecting said bar and one of said arms for limiting the movement of said bar relative to said arm, and means connected to said arms for lifting the levers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT JOHNS.

Vitnesses JOHN HALYDAY, JOSEPH C. HARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

